Work Text:
“Unghhh…” Mike sighed as Rachel met him in the hallway.
“Oooh that does not sound good,” She frowned. She looked at his disheveled and frumpy clothes, which were stylishly matched with frantically combed hair and bright red cheeks and bloodshot eyes. “Mike – are you sick?”
“No.” He shook his head, wincing as his head throbbed.
She continued looking at him, “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for this,” Mike frowned. “Do you have that paperwork I asked you about?”
Rachel hesitated before handing it to him. “You really shouldn’t be here.”
He took the folder and was careful not to touch her fingers in the process. “Well, it’s not like I can stay home. Harvey has me working on this case and I think I personally offended Louis or something. He’s been hounding me incessantly.”
“You’re going to wear yourself out,” she warned. She looked at him more seriously, concern filling her eyes, “Do you have someone who can take care of you at home?”
“I kind of live here,” Mike gestured to the surrounding firm, “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll bring you some soup tonight,” she promised before he could protest. Rachel winked at him before going back to her office.
“You’re an angel,” Mike said once she was out of earshot. He drug himself to his cubicle and collapsed in his rotating chair. He looked at the computer and files staring intimidatingly at him. Today was going to be a long day.
***
“-And file those claims first thing. I need to deliver them to the plaintiff in the morning – what the hell happened to you?” Harvey stared at Mike in a mixture of disgust and annoyance. There was also a hint of concern but Mike knew Harvey would disagree.
“I’m fine,” Mike replied, “I’m on it.”
“No, no, you’re not,” Harvey walked from his record wall to his young associate. “Sit down.” He pointed to the couch.
“This is a waste of time,” Mike protested while trying his hardest not to curl up in a ball and fall asleep on the couch. It was unfairly comfortable.
Harvey sat across from him and studied him acutely. He pressed a hand to Mike’s forehead. Mike couldn’t help but lean into the touch. At least he repressed his instinct to close his eyes and sigh drowsily. “You’ve got a fever.”
“I just got a sunburn,” he excused himself and stood. He started towards the exit before looking back, “Just file the claims? Or is there anything else?”
***
“Damn it, kid,” Mike jolted awake to find Harvey looking down at him. Mike quickly sat up, causing his head to pound, and he frantically began organizing his paperwork.
“I was, uh, examining these files,” he closed the folder and handed it to Harvey.
“If that was examining you need your eyes checked,” Harvey folded his arms across his chest, “You’re sick.”
“I’m perfectly capable of doing my job, Harvey,” he grabbed the next stack of paperwork – some mindless crap from Louis. “Sure, I’m a little under the weather-”
“A little under the weather?” His voice was raised. “I found you asleep at your desk! This morning you had a fever and looked like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. You are not ‘a little under the weather.’”
Mike bit his lip, struggling to meet Harvey in the eye. “I’m sorry… I just didn’t want to seem weak. Didn’t want you to think less of me.”
“Oh yeah? Well now I’m annoyed.” Harvey scowled. “Also, you lied to me. That I do not appreciate.”
“I’m sorry!” He cried. He took in a deep breath before speaking again, this time in a much cooler and civil voice. “Is there anything else you’d like for me to do?”
“Yes,” Harvey replied, leaning forward, “For you to go home, have some soup, sleep, and don’t come to work until you’re better.”
“But what about you?” Mike sniffed and grabbed a Kleenex.
“I can manage,” He gestured to Mike, “you cannot.”
***
“Ray?” Mike watched as he loaded his bicycle into the limo.
“Harvey told me to take you home,” Ray explained as he closed the trunk. “He said you can’t ride your bike in your state.”
“Really?” Mike groaned despite being secretly relieved. He was exhausted.
“Really,” Ray confirmed and opened the door for him, “Now in.”
***
“This isn’t my apartment,” a sleepy Mike mumbled as Ray guided him into the condo. Mike had fallen asleep almost immediately after getting into the limo. Ray almost felt waking him up again.
“I’m just following Harvey’s instructions.” He made sure Mike was fast asleep on the couch with blankets and pillows before leaving.
***
“Hey….” Mike groggily sat up. He wiped his eyes and smiled a half-smile when he saw Harvey in the kitchen.
“You said you were fine and then fell asleep for fourteen hours,” Harvey smirked. He grabbed a sleeve of crackers and walked into the living room. He held a bowl of soup in the other hand, which he gave to Mike. “If you’re going to lie, at least try to follow through on them.”
“Har, har,” He smiled gently. His voice was raspy. “Thank you.”
“Just taking care of my own,” Harvey replied and sat on the other sofa. “Can’t have you infecting my clients.”
“What if I infect you?” As much as Harvey liked to pretend he didn’t have a heart, Mike knew otherwise.
“I guess that’s just a risk we’ll have to take,” Harvey smiled. They both smiled at each other for a long while.
Mike broke the silence by slurping a spoonful of soup. “This is really good.”
“Rachel dropped it off a few hours ago,” Harvey explained.
“I’ll have to thank her when I get back to work-”
“In a few days,” Harvey cut him off. “Now do you want to watch a movie or are you going to fall asleep for twenty hours like an overworked puppy?”
Mike chuckled and pulled the blanket burrito closer around him. “Fall asleep to a movie?”
“I suppose that’s acceptable.”